DES MOINES — Iowa’s primary elections are next week, when voters choose candidates for the general election ballot in November.
While some legislative primary elections are small, low-budget grassroots affairs, others have seen fundraising of tens of thousands of dollars, TV advertising and endorsements from prominent statewide groups.
Candidates in legislative primary races raised more than $620,000 and spent more than $395,000 in the period between Jan. 1 and May 14, according to reports filed with the Iowa Ethics and Campaign Disclosure Board.
Five incumbents in the House and two Senate incumbents are facing challenges from within their own party. In the other 15 legislative primary contests, there is no incumbent running or there are multiple candidates running for the chance to challenge an incumbent of the opposite party in the general election.
Republicans hold majorities in both the House and Senate, and are hoping to grow their majorities in November.
House Speaker Pat Grassley, a Republican from New Hartford, said in a statement the party’s candidates have set their focus on fundraising now that the legislative session is over. He said Republicans have strong incumbents in the Des Moines metro that will help them hang on to swing seats.
“We’re also eager to continue to expand our map by flipping long-held Democratic strongholds across the state and making them solid Republican seats just as we’ve done in Newton and Fort Dodge, for example,” he said.
House Democratic leader Jennifer Konfrst of Windsor Heights said in a statement that the party’s strong fundraising shows that they will expand their numbers in the chamber in November.
“Iowans are tired of politics. They are ready for more balance in the Iowa Legislature and Iowa House Democrats’ strong fundraising numbers from people all over the state prove it,” Konfrst said.
Tyler Redenbaugh, the executive director of the Senate Democrats’ Iowa Senate Majority Fund, said Senate Democratic candidates are “more motivated than ever to share their vision with voters this summer and win in November” based on early fundraising numbers.
Senate Republicans spokesperson Caleb Hunter said the caucus’ fundraising for the period showed Iowans’ support for their decisions.
“Despite currently holding 34 seats in the chamber, multiple pickup opportunities exist across the state, and Senate Republicans are well-positioned to maintain a supermajority in the Iowa Senate in 2024,” Hunter said.
Polls will be open for the June 4 primary from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and early voting has already begun. Primary elections will be held for seats in Congress, the Legislature and local offices.
Here is a breakdown of some of the most expensive primaries in the state House and Senate, based on spending by candidates between Jan. 1 and May 14.
Senate District 30
Incumbent Republican Sen. Waylon Brown, of Osage, is facing a primary challenge from Republican Doug Campbell of Mason City in this district that covers Cerro Gordo, Worth and Mitchell counties, and part of Floyd County. The winner will face Democrat Richard Lorence.
Here’s how the fundraising and spending breaks down in the primary race:
Waylon Brown:
Cash on hand before period: $147,848
Raised: $44,197
Spent: $55,613
Cash on hand: $136,432
Doug Campbell:
Cash on hand before period: $0
Raised: $17,861
Spent: $11,746
Cash on hand: $6,114
Campbell is focusing his campaign heavily on opposition to carbon capture pipelines, which would sequester the CO2 emitted by ethanol plants to take advantage of federal tax credits and low-carbon markets.
Summit Carbon Solutions is seeking a permit to build a pipeline that will cross all four counties in the Senate district, and opponents of the pipeline have accused Brown of opposing efforts to stop its construction.
“(Brown) wants to put an unconstitutional pipeline through the state of Iowa that has no use at all,” Campbell said in a recent campaign video. “Your money, tax dollars, for a private company, private gain.”
Campbell’s campaign expenses include consulting, sign printing and text message advertising.
Brown had nearly $150,000 in the bank at the end of last year, and raised another $44,000 during the first four-and-a-half months of this year.
Brown’s expenditures include TV and digital advertising, text message advertising and mail campaigns.
In television ads, Brown flexes his conservative record. He points to votes for bills that allow Iowa law enforcement to arrest illegal immigrants, impose tax cuts and restrict foreign owners of farmland.
“When it comes down to it, it takes a conservative to get the job done,” he says in an ad titled “Conservative Results.”
Senate District 38
There is a three-person Republican primary to challenge incumbent Democrat Eric Giddens of Cedar Falls. The district covers parts of Black Hawk, Tama and Benton counties. Here’s how fundraising and spending breaks down in the primary:
David Sires:
Cash on hand before period: $0
Raised: $38,049
Spent: $22,547
Cash on hand: $15,501
James McCullagh:
Cash on hand before period: $422
Raised: $27,555
Spent: $18,000
Cash on hand: $9,977
Steve Schmitt:
Cash on hand before period: $0
Raised: $6,805
Spent: $2,961
Cash on hand: $3,844
Sires, 63, a former Cedar Falls City Council member, leads the race in both fundraising and spending. He told the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier in January he wanted to run for Senate to represent Republican values like gun rights, property rights and preventing foreign entities from owning farmland.
“When they (the government) take one link out of your chain, your chain gets shorter and shorter, and you don’t notice,” he said at the time. “These freedoms are slipping away from us, and I’m the guy who’s not going to tolerate that.”
McCullagh, an engineer and entrepreneur, is running a largely self-funded campaign. McCullagh donated $27,002 to his campaign and received $53.13 in individual contributions.
Schmitt, a former Waterloo City Council member, told the Courier in March he wanted to run to focus on the budget and lowering taxes.
Senate District 26
Political newcomers Kara Warme and Gannon Hendrick, both Republicans, are facing off in a primary to represent Senate District 26, which includes Marshall County and part of Story County.
Sen. Jeff Edler, who currently represents the district, is retiring and will not seek re-election. The winner of the primary will face Democrat Mike Wolfe. Here’s how the fundraising in this district breaks down:
Kara Warme:
Raised: $51,133
Spent: $34,248
Cash on hand: $16,884
Gannon Hendrick:
Raised: $24,902
Spent: $6,092
Cash on hand: $18,809
Warme’s top expenses include buying ads on Facebook, TV, and mail campaigns. Hendrick’s expenses included signs and campaign mailers.
House District 34
Democratic Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad announced his retirement this year after nearly two decades in office, opening up his seat in the heavily Democratic House District 34 in Des Moines.
Four Democrats have jumped into the primary, making this seat the most expensive House primary campaign this year. The winner will face Republican Danielle Duggan. Here is how the fundraising breaks down:
Samy El-Baroudi:
Raised: $15,595
Spent: $14,733
Cash on hand: $861
John Campbell:
Raised: $19,883
Spent: $12,641
Cash on hand: $7,241
Rob Johnson:
Raised: $16,045
Spent: $9,693
Cash on hand: $6,351
Dudley Muhammad:
Raised: $2,817
Spent: $2663
Cash on hand: $154
Johnson has notched the endorsement of Abdul-Samad and other prominent Des Moines Democrats, including state Auditor Rob Sand, as well as seven state representatives. He is a faith leader and community activist.
El-Baroudi, a teacher and education advocate, says on his campaign website he wants to prioritize education funding and make the district a “beacon of social justice and inclusion.”
House District 60
Incumbent Republican Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, of Northwood, is facing a primary challenge from Republican John Rosenfeld in this district that covers Worth, Mitchell and parts of Cerro Gordo and Floyd counties. Here’s how the fundraising and spending breaks down:
Jane Bloomingdale:
Cash on hand before period: $101,442
Raised: $40,115
Spent: $21,728
Cash on hand: $119,830
John Rosenfeld:
Cash on hand before period: $0
Raised: $12,370
Spent: $12,132
Cash on hand: $238
Bloomingdale’s main expense during the period was more than $15,000 for materials and postage for a mail campaign. She has highlighted endorsements from the Iowa Farm Bureau and National Rifle Association on her social media pages.
Rosenfeld, of Clear Lake, said in a March news release announcing his campaign that he would advocate for property rights, anti-abortion stances, and gun rights. He gave $5,000 to his campaign, and received more than $7,000 in donations. The Family Leader, a conservative Christian political group, has endorsed Rosenfeld.
House District 51
Two Republicans are facing off in a primary to replace outgoing GOP Rep. Dave Deyoe in this district that covers rural Story County. Nevada Mayor Brett Barker and former Story County Supervisor Martin Chitty are running to take on Democrat Ryan Condon in the general election. Here’s how the fundraising breaks down:
Brett Barker:
Cash on hand before period: $6,228
Raised: $21,042
Spent: $15,438
Cash on hand: $11,833
Martin Chitty:
Cash on hand before period: $0
Raised: $14,389
Spent: $7,733
Cash on hand: $6,655